Don Tillman, 39, tall, intelligent and employed: "Logically I should be attractive to a wide range of women" (His words) and is an undiagnosed Asperger's type who Simsion uses to explore how a grown autistic man might approach a romantic relationship. The Wife Project comes out of his perceived need for a wife, and who might be appropriate, to do this he (Don) draws up a tick box questionnaire of necessary or desirable and, as far as he is concerned, undesirable traits (smoking, overweight, vegetarian etc). This light book deftly illustrates the difficulties one can get into if you cannot see the 'grey' in the world. If your life is run along dogmatic lines according to the society as you understand it, then trying to navigate friendship and love is obviously difficult. Life is negotiation, compromise and full of grey areas, which if you don't see them, understand them or are unable to compromise makes for awkward and 'interesting' situations. Rosie is obviously not appropriate and yet love happens. Don's two friends Gene and Claudia humanise him and add texture to what could be a one dimensional character.
Words used to describe it:
Scintillating, different, uplifting, charming, amusing, illuminating
Marks out of 10 between 6 - 8.5
Pauline has read the next book in the series The Rosie Effect and recommends it, thought it even more enjoyable than the first one!
Next Meeting
72 Kingwood Road
Date
Friday 16th October
Next Book
I have arbitrarily changed the book, as I wanted to read
How to Build a Girl by Caitlin Moran
